Photo Source: ANI
Akal Takht Jathedar comments on ‘Only Sikh CM’ for Punjab row, Jakhar hails
Chandigarh, September 21, 2021: Amid the ongoing debate of only Sikh CM for Punjab, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has commented on the ongoing debate of only Sikh CM for Punjab which has received a mixed response from the senior leaders in the state.
Commenting on the matter, Akal Takht Jathedar was quoted telling the national daily Indian Express that “Behtar insaan hona chahiye (should be a good person), achchai pehle number pe (human goodness is the primary consideration). Sikh hona ya Hindu hona secondary hai (whether Hindu or Sikh is secondary).”
“For many, though, “face matters”. “A Sikh CM matters for the aam public… speaks of Punjab’s pehchaan (identity)… just as Hindus take pride when (one among them) does well in the US (politics)…”,” he was quoted saying.
Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday commended Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh’s statement on the ongoing debate around ‘Only Sikh CM’ for Punjab remark.
Taking to Twitter, Sunil Jakhar shared a clip of a new report that carried the statement of Akal Takht Jathedar on the matter.
“Sagacious words of Jathedar of Shri Akal Takht Sahib couldn’t have come at a better time when petty-minded small people occupying high positions are trying to divide. Punjab on basis of race/caste/identities-forgetting eternal message of Guru "ਮਾਨਸ ਕੀ ਜਾਤ ਸਬੈ ਏਕੈ ਪਹਿਚਾਨਬੋ",” Sunil Jakhar wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Harwinder Singh Phoolka strongly objects to the statement’s.
In a letter to Akal Takhth Jathedar, Phoolka has asked the former to ask him to stay away from politics. He said that it is not the place of Akal Jathedar to give statements on political matters that can be used by any political parties for their vested interest.
It is to be mentioned that the whole debate of Only Sikh CM for Punjab started when senior Congress leader Ambika Soni stated that only a Sikh can become a Chief Minister in Punjab after some new channels started carrying the news that she has been offered the post.
Jakhar was reportedly in the race for the post of Punjab CM after Captain Amarinder Singh tendered his resignation last week amid the growing resistance against him within the party.